Downton Abbey - Series 2

[Johnkm]

It is!

[Agnetha]

Mosely or Lavinia would be such NON DEATHS.

But Cora or Carson? NOOO!

[Agnetha]

It's GIVING this evening! "Thank you mother that's cheered us up no end"

[Johnkm]

They've held back all the great one liners for this episode it would appear.

[Agnetha]

Whilst this series hasn't been AS GOOD as series 1, the AMAZING EPISODES have 100% made it. And this might just be the BEST YET.

[Agnetha]

Cora is WOEFULLY ILL.

[Agnetha]

I do not like way this is heading.

[Johnkm]

I'm glad they've given Elizabeth this chance to extend her repetoire to include acting ill

[Agnetha]

I'm glad they've given Elizabeth this chance to extend her repetoire to include acting ill

I practically caught FEVER just watching her WRITHE in her bed.

[Johnkm]

I wish I hadn't read the spoilers now, this episode could have been FAB not knowing what's going to happen.

[Johnkm]

Oh it's extra long tonight too

[Agnetha]

That was the quite the EPIC EXTRA WHEEZY DEMISE.

[Johnkm]

She's challenging Cora for Best Sickbed Acting.

[Madison]

I don't understand…

What was the exciting thing that was meant to happen? That plain woman dying?

[Agnetha]

Technically lot's of exciting things happened.

[Johnkm]

The ending wasn't quite as good as last series (to be honest I'd happily see the back of Bates) and indeed the whole series wasn't quite as good, but I'm going to miss this so much for the next 10 months.

[Tetris-Rock]

I think the problem is that people don't give much of a shit about Mr. Bates.

[Madison]

The ending wasn't quite as good as last series (to be honest I'd happily see the back of Bates) and indeed the whole series wasn't quite as good, but I'm going to miss this so much for the next 10 months.

There's always Christmas.

Although I suspect it will lack the sex death and violence I feel the series is lacking.

[Agnetha]

Thomas didn't get ANY ACTION all SERIES.

[PercyPig]

I've always quite liked Anna so I feel quite gutted for her (but not for Mr. Bates)

The scene with Matthew and Lady Mary was wonderful though when they dancing. I almost cheered (but cheered more when Lorelai and Luke kissed in Gilmore Girls today <3).

And I really did think Thomas was going to poison Carson. I wouldn't put it past him! The Dowager Countess was also fabulous as usual with some cracking lines!

[TurnerPrize]

I quite liked it. I was impressed with DAME ELIZABETH's i-might-die-you-know-(but-i-clearly-won't) flu acting, and ditto to poor Anna's QUIVERING LIP at the end, and i thought the dance scene was magnificent. But i never, ever want to see Bates with his tits out again.

Overall i've liked the series, just nowhere near as much as series 1. It might have been a mistake to rewatch that only a few months ago, but this series hasn't felt as polished and sharply written to me. Still good though.

Although I suspect it will lack the sex death and violence I feel the series is lacking.

You're looking in the WRONG PLACE. Pay a rent boy to beat you, you must be on quite a good salary.

[Agnetha]

The closing scene with Anna I thought was MARVELLOUS.

And you're quite right. Mister Bates needs to keep his clothes ON ON ON.

[cwej]

I wish I hadn't read the spoilers now, this episode could have been FAB not knowing what's going to happen.

Could it? I didn't read any spoilers but as soon as we realised it was going to be Spanish flu we said Lavinia will die and everyone else will live; as soon as Bates and Anna arranged their marriage, I said 'the final scene will be some people coming to the door and arresting him'. I thought every single scene was cliched and predictable... and it's been going that way for the last 3 weeks (since it jumped the shark with the 'Don't you know who I am' man coming back from the dead).

I still enjoy the programme and think there are some fine performances, but I wish they would REALLY surprise us one week - Cora dying would have been a really big moment, and they copped out. And Season 1 was much better.

[PercyPig]

Oh yeah and I just wanted to say that my wedding was so much better… but because the bride didn't die the day before that was a given.

[PercyPig]

Don't be defeatist dear, it's very middle class

I'm going to try and SHOE-HORN that one in over the next few weeks.

"Don't be fat dear, it's very middle class"

[Johnkm]

Could it? I didn't read any spoilers but as soon as we realised it was going to be Spanish flu we said Lavinia will die and everyone else will live; as soon as Bates and Anna arranged their marriage, I said 'the final scene will be some people coming to the door and arresting him'. I thought every single scene was cliched and predictable... and it's been going that way for the last 3 weeks (since it jumped the shark with the 'Don't you know who I am' man coming back from the dead).

I still enjoy the programme and think there are some fine performances, but I wish they would REALLY surprise us one week - Cora dying would have been a really big moment, and they copped out. And Season 1 was much better.

Well I certainly wouldn't have guessed Bates would be arrested, the rest was a little predictable yes but I imagine it would have been much more enjoyable had I not known all the same. On the same note I certainly don't think it's jumped the shark by any means, it's not as good as Series 1, but then they set the bar so ludicrously high they were never really going to be able to better it, let alone keep to that level. I've thoroughly enjoyed series 2, it hasn't been quite as good, but it's been hugely entertaining and that's good enough for me.

[cwej]

If I hadn't known it was the last episode in the series I wouldn't have guessed the Bates ending to be fair - but I thought it was pretty damn obvious because it needed a dramatic final scene to finish the series.

I just think the storylines have become a little soapy - I mean Cora's near death experience when she was ridiculously ill, compared to Lavinia sitting up and having a chat in bed 10 minutes before she was a goner. Add to that 'Mr Back From The Dead With Necessary Amnesia' and 'You'll Never Walk Again Oh No It's OK We Misdiagnosed You'll Be Fine' and it was all very OTT and ridiculous. I preferred it when it was like a posh version of Last of the Summer Wine - an hour of nothing much really happening except for Maggie Smith wanting to win the village flower competition.

[Madison]

I assumed Bates had been arrested episodes ago - it seemed a really obvious plot twist to me as soon as we saw Catherine of Aragon's death.

[Madison]

I even assumed that it had happened in the previous episode and that's why they were reticent about getting married.

[Phoenix]

i'm assuming that Gwen the maid who wanted to be a secretary (and let's be honest - we'd all forgotten about) won't be coming back this year? You've got to feel sorry for that actress.

You know nothing Turnipeyes (or maybe you know by now) but she's been cast in a not too shabby role on Game of Thrones.

Anyway i just started watching this and i'm loving it even more than the first series. Poor Thomas and his blind soldier boy, he didn't even get a kiss.

[Agnetha]

[Mats]

who's the one standing between Ethel and Edith? Thomas?

[Mats]

OMG IT'S SYBIL. I didn't recognize her at all

what a wtf picture

[Agnetha]

YES!

Andrea Corr dressed as a Nolan.

[Agnetha]

She is definitely the most attractive.

Mary looks DEAD. Edith is the biggest improvement, despite looking FAR TOO LIKE Fearne Cotton.

[Johnkm]

Nice to see more rubbish photoshopping at work (Daisy seems to have lost part of her foot)

[Mats]

not to me

[Johnkm]

Oh it was just me not looking properly, never mind

Mary, Sybil and Edith looks fab though

[PercyPig]

Sybil looks nothing like that!

Fab photo though.

[Tetris-Rock]

Has ANYONE heard Lady Mary's real accent? She's really rather ESSEX. I find it quite amusing, especially as I had no idea that the actress was POSHING UP for the role.